The Lodger

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I was gripped. A clever and richly imagined recreation of the Edwardian world with all its politesse and hypocrisies after the First World War * Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME * Please note: I have read the ARC copy. However, all the opinions and views are my own as any other review I make. The Lodger is Helen Scarlett’s second novel (following The Deception of Harriet Fleet in 2020) who, once again, delivers a tale of mystery and intrigue set amid a gothic atmosphere set amid a period of mourning in 1919 following the First World War. To make matters worse, a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Elizabeth Smith, who lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing. Grace seems to accept the discoveries about Elizabeth's death and life like completing a puzzle. Elizabeth's story is full of secrets and taboos. But the information Grace gathers during the months following Elizabeth's death have no consequence. The final scenario would be exactly the same if the crime of the central plot was any other; and, what should have been the main story of the novel, becomes a secondary plot.

Helen Scarlett | Incredible books from Quercus Books Helen Scarlett | Incredible books from Quercus Books

The Lodger is a historical mystery novel set in post-World War I London. We follow Grace, an aspiring reporter in her early 20s as she works to discern the truth of the death of her dear family friend and long-time lodger, Elizabeth. Soon Grace finds herself under threat, and the only person prepared to listen is the brooding Tom Monaghan. I was very keen to read Helen Scarlett's latest Gothic treat, having enjoyed her previous book The Deception of Harriet Fleet so much. I wasn't disappointed. Once again, I was transported to a note-perfect historical setting in the company of a spirited protagonist who is determined to solve a mystery despite being haunted by tragic events. Edward & Robert's friend, Arthur, comes to visit & brings with him another colleague, Tom, who was injured & had to have several fingers amputated, putting to an end his music career. Tom is bitter about the war & clashes with Grace's father who keeps the quintessential English 'stiff upper lip' about his emotions & believes in the sacrifices made. When the body of a woman is found in the river, the description of what she was wearing is familiar & Grace goes along to the police station with a photograph & gets confirmation that sadly Elizabeth is dead. She cannot believe that the police are going to write it off as a suicide though - the Elizabeth she knew was not in that frame of mind, but as Grace investigates what happened with the surprising help of Tom, she finds that perhaps she didn't know their lodger as well as she thought.The Lodger is an interesting position. The action takes place in London in 1919, and the city seems to be mourning the sons and husbands lost in the war. Grace’s fiancé was one of the soldiers declared missing after the Battle of Somme, and she cannot accept this loss. Grace is convinced that he is alive and sees him on the street of London. This overwhelming grief gives the novel a melancholic atmosphere, contrasted by the scenes where Grace visits relatively modern clubs with her friends. The story’s central theme is the investigation of Catherine’s life and death. It turns out that she had many secrets and a turbulent past. Soon, Grace’s actions are noticed by those interested in keeping the truth hidden… I loved that the world building, it was a huge plus as there is something impeccably sexy and mysterious about London based books! 😍 The author uses her beautifully evoked setting - an eerie, watery, twilit London in the aftermath of the First World War, a place of ghosts at a time of collective loss and grief, the London of The Waste Land and Mrs Dalloway - to dramatic effect as amateur sleuth Grace investigates the disappearance of the secretive lodger of the title. I didn’t have high hopes of this, having read a lot of gothic fiction recently and become a bit disillusioned with it but this was brilliant. I loved it. There were so many twist and turns and the ghosts and depiction of grief added real weight to the story. Elizabeth was a total mystery and I didn’t see the ending coming. I highly recommend this.

The Lodger - Helen Scarlett - Google Books The Lodger - Helen Scarlett - Google Books

I found ‘The Lodger’ a slow burn, character-driven mystery with a strong emphasis upon its post Great War setting. This includes examining the various changes that the war had brought about in society. There is also the theme of dealing with loss and grief. An intriguing mystery layered with deeper themes of loss and regeneration after the Great War. London in 1919 is richly atmospheric, and Grace Armstrong is a sympathetic and spirited protagonist * V. B. Grey, author of SISTERHOOD * The main issue I find with this book is that characters are flat. Despite the fact that the plot takes place in a space of about 6 months, the events don't seem to have too much influence on the characters' lives, beyond slightly modifying their routine. The few changes that you can be appreciate in Grace, Tom, or in any of the dozen characters in this story, seem come from the natural passage of time and the process of overcoming the trauma of war.London in 1919, a city of ghosts and absences. Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her fiancé, the brilliant and dazzling best friend of her brother. He was declared Missing in Action during the Battle of the Somme, but he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams. The Lodger is solid entry into the gothic genre. Using the atmospheric London streets during the aftermath of World War I to its advantage, the story follows Grace who is determined to find out the truth of what happened to her missing lodger, Elizabeth. The Lodger is easy to read, despite using period-specific vocabulary. There are no complicated structures or complex vocabulary, which helps to keep the reading pace. If you are looking for an book to improve your English, The Lodger is a good choice.